shakespeare of stratford there just isn't enough knowledge really that could be gained from a person who is educated in a local school. why aren't there any manuscripts? um, there are only six signatures, i think, of william of stratford, and they're barely legible. yes. and why? um...if he were the greatest writer, why did he keep his children illiterate? and if you had been involved, would you have had in your will-- surely you'd have mentioned something to do with a theater or books. there's not a mention at all. no, there's nothing, absolutely nothing. it's an amazing conspiracy. jacobi: denying shakespeare the authorship of...shakespeare is, i'm well aware hugely controversial. i'm always surprised that an actor, a great actor such as sir derek, should question the idea that shakespeare's plays were written by william shakespeare the actor from stratford-upon-avon, because the plays are so full of the actor's way of looking at the world, so full of the technical knowledge of the theater. so many of the plays are collaborative. they're written for particular actors who were shakespeare's friends